Luggage Guidelines - Rottnest Express

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The Rottnest Island Authority in conjunction with Rottnest Express have introduced a luggage procedure for your onward and return journey that is designed to improve and simplify the accuracy and efficiency of luggage delivery. Rottnest Express is responsible for the water transport component of the delivery of your goods, with the Rottnest Island Authority being responsible for the delivery and collection for return of your goods on the Island. Please note delivery times vary and may take up to 3 hours for your goods to be delivered to your accommodation.

Luggage & Freight Guidelines

Departing luggage info

Guests are each welcome to bring up to 2 carry-on items onboard, provided they are within the luggage
size specifications, fit in the seat with you and do not take up any additional seats. No luggage or other items are allowed in the aisles as they must always remain clear to allow crew movement around the vessel.

If you are staying on the island, then you can have your luggage delivered to your accommodation on your behalf. Checked baggage must be labelled with labels issued by Rottnest Express and loaded into a luggage crate then stowed in the vessel hold or deck for the crossing to and from Rottnest Island.

All contents of your checked baggage need to be packed securely and must be packaged in an appropriate bag, suitcase or esky to prevent damage occurring from other items of luggage whilst stowed in the luggage crate and during the delivery & collection on Rottnest Island.

If staying in Rottnest Island Authority accommodation, they will advise you of your unit number two weeks before check in. You must ensure that the unit number is clearly visible on both ends of each luggage label before attaching to your luggage.

We advise arriving at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time to provide adequate time to load luggage and any items of freight. Boarding closes 10 minutes prior to departure for loading of luggage.

Luggage size specifications

Items of freight

The items listed below cannot be delivered by the Rottnest Island Authority and must be collected from the vessel upon disembarkation:

Fishing Rods
Bikes (rentals or own)
Bike trailers
Musical instruments
Golf Clubs
Boogie boards (not in a cover)
Surfboards / Paddleboards
Wave Ski / Kayak
Dive tanks / Cray pots
E-Scooters

For safety reasons, items of freight cannot be taken into passenger cabin areas. They will be placed in the vessels hold by the crew and must be collected from our crew upon disembarking the vessel.

Luggage Labels

If you are staying on the island, then you can have your luggage delivered to your accommodation. To have your luggage delivered to your accommodation, luggage labels will need to be purchased at $3.00 per item. These personalised luggage labels contain onward and return information so they should remain on your luggage for your entire trip.
When making a booking 8 (eight) days or more in advance of your travel date your labels will be mailed to you for a $2 postage charge.
If your booking is 7 (seven) days or less from your travel date, your labels will not be mailed and you will be able to collect luggage labels from the ticket office at your departure point. Please ensure you leave adequate time to collect your labels and apply to your luggage before your scheduled departure time.
Once booked, if your travel arrangements change then new luggage labels will need to be re-issued at either your departure point or extra labels purchased online.
All luggage label related fees are displayed when checking out online.

Carriage of bicycles and bicycle trailers

Due to the limitations of loading bicycles on board the vessel, only bicycles that are within the specifications listed can be loaded and are loaded subject to availability.

Height – No higher than 1.3 metre
Width – Total width no wider than 45cm
Length – No longer than 1.8 metres
Weight – No heavier than 22kg
Tyre width – No wider than 6cm

Electric bicycles within these specifications are permitted provided the battery is removed and packed in hand luggage. Where a battery cannot be removed, the electric bicycle will not be permitted to go on the ferry.

Any bicycles that exceed any of these specifications cannot be loaded on any Rottnest Express vessel and as we have limited storage capacity, we are unable to store the bicycle.

Bicycle trailers & beach trolleys are required to be empty before being loaded on board the vessel. Beach trolleys must be folded before being loaded into a luggage crate.

All individual items of luggage and freight should be labelled with your details to ensure you can identify your belongings when collecting from the vessel upon disembarkation.

Travelling with a pram

Passengers travelling with prams or strollers are welcome on any Rottnest Express service. Prams are to be folded prior to boarding and stowed securely in an area directed by the crew. Children should then be seated with a parent or guardian.

To assist with passenger comfort and safety, any passengers bringing a pram will be given priority boarding after folding and stowing pram.

Returning luggage info

If you have booked return ferry travel, the luggage labels you are issued will also include your return date and voyage information, so it is important to attach them in a manner that ensures they are secure, readily visible and able to stay attached and undamaged for the duration of your stay. This will ensure the timely delivery of your luggage on the Island, as well as the terminal you are returning to on the mainland after your stay.

If you are returning on a ferry which departs Rottnest Island before 10am, you must organise an early luggage collection with the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre.

Should you change your return travel information whilst on Rottnest, you must ensure that your luggage labels reflect these changes to make sure that your luggage returns on the ferry that you are travelling onboard. New labels, which are pre-printed with the return terminals, can be obtained from inside the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre. These should replace the original labels and be completed with your contact details and updated travel time before attaching to each piece of luggage.

Once luggage has been collected, it is unable to be changed to reflect an earlier or later ferry time.

Important info

Valuables, car keys and medication must be carried in your carry-on baggage; under no circumstances are they to be packed in luggage to be delivered or put in the vessels hold.

Luggage may take up to 3 hours after arrival of your ferry to be delivered to your accommodation.

As luggage capacity is subject to availability, all items of luggage and freight must be pre-booked and may incur a fee for transfer. Additional items of carry-on luggage that do not fit within the specifications may incur a fee and must be placed in the vessel hold.

Rottnest Express is responsible for the water transport component of the delivery of your goods, with the Rottnest Island Authority being responsible for the delivery and collection for return of your goods on the Island.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Are there lockers on Rottnest Island?

Yes, Rottnest Island has lockers available for hire at various locations around the island. These lockers are convenient for visitors who want to store their belongings while they explore the island.

What items can I take on board and what luggage facilities does Rottnest Express offer?

You can take small carry-on items such as backpacks, handbags, and camera bags on board the Rottnest Express ferry. Larger items such as suitcases and surfboards can be checked in and stored in the luggage hold of the ferry.

The Rottnest Island Authority also offers luggage storage facilities on the island for those who need to store their bags before check-in or after check-out. The luggage storage facility is located at the rear of the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre and is open from 7:30am to 6:00 pm daily. The cost of luggage storage is $10 per item, per day.

Please note that Rottnest Express do not have any luggage storage facilities available at the terminal or on the island.

Are There Size and Weight Restrictions For Luggage?

Yes. The following size and weight restrictions are in place to comply with health and safety regulations. Luggage exceeding specified sizes may not be transported or delivered.

Single pieces of luggage up to 22kg and no larger than 800mm x 500mm x 400mm can be stowed in
our vessels’ luggage crates free of charge.
Single carry-on items must be no larger than 600mm x 400mm x 300mm. There are no luggage
storage facilities in passenger areas: anything taken onboard must be accommodated on your lap so
as not interfere with other passengers.
No ‘piggy-backing’ of luggage is permitted (eg attaching a sleeping bag to a suitcase).

Can I Obtain Extra Labels If I Want To Take More Than Two Items of Luggage?

Yes. You can purchase extra labels from us at the time you make your booking, or when you check-in at the terminal.

How Much Luggage Can I Bring To Rottnest?

1 piece per person. Extra luggage will incur an excess luggage charge.

How Will I Receive My Luggage Labels?

For bookings made outside of 7 days, luggage labels will be posted to your nominated address. For bookings made within 7 days, labels must be collected from the ticketing office on the day of departure.

What Do I Do If I Change My Departure Time From Rottnest Island Back To The Mainland, And Have Already Put My Luggage Out For Collection?

Once your luggage has been collected it will be delivered as per the attached labels.

What Happens If Labels Are Damaged Or Missing Before My Return Voyage?

The Visitor Centre at the foot of the ferry jetty has labels available. Replacement labels require you to fill out your details manually.

What If My Luggage Is Damaged In Transit?

All luggage, freight and personal items are transported at the risk of the ticket holder. We will always take the utmost care with your belongings, but as we cannot inspect the condition or the method of packing by the ticket holder, we do not accept any liability for damage to any items.

What Luggage Won’t Be Delivered To Island Accommodation?

Items such as surfboards, surf-skis, fishing rods, bicycles, dive tanks, craypots and golf bags are not able to be delivered to island accommodation and must be collected from the main jetty on Rottnest and transported by the owner.

Who Is Responsible For The Delivery Of My Luggage?

The Rottnest Island Authority is responsible for the delivery of your luggage on the island, as well as collection for delivery back to the mainland. Ferry operators are responsible for the water travel component of this process. There is some supervision at collection points, but ferry staff are only there to monitor and assist with orderly collection. Incidents of theft or lost luggage are rare, but items of value should always be carried with you rather than in your luggage. Luggage and freight are carried entirely at the ticket holder’s risk. If a lost item remains unfound after investigation by the RIA and the ferry company, recourse is through your insurance company.

Why Do I Need Luggage Labels?

To ensure successful delivery to island accommodation, each piece of luggage is required to have a Rottnest Island luggage label attached. These labels identify the accommodation unit you are staying in, as well as listing your contact details should we need to get in touch. Items without labels cannot be delivered. Labels are pre-printed; leave labels on luggage for your return voyage.